New research suggests many consumers in the US may have chosen to sell mobile phones in the past year and upgrade to a smartphone.

The study was carried out by comScore and showed that the number of people over 13 years old who use this type of handset increased by 60 per cent over the past year.

It revealed that the top platforms for smartphones are Palm, Google, Apple, Microsoft and RIM, which led the way in terms of popularity with a 31.6 per cent share of the market.

RIM - or Research In Motion - is a Canadian company best known for creating the BlackBerry, the mobile phone of choice for businessmen the world over.

According to comScore, Google Android occupied second place in the rankings, holding 28.7 per cent of the market, followed by Apple with 25 per cent.

The report revealed that there are currently about 63.2 million smartphone users in the US.

Whether or not Brits are choosing to recycle mobile phones at the same pace as their counterparts across the Atlantic was not included in the document.

One handset that could prompt gamers to sell mobile phones in order to purchase a new device is the upcoming launch of the Sony Xperia - or the PlayStation mobile phone as it has come to be known on the web.

Sony Ericsson recently put up an advert on its Facebook page revealing that it will make an official announcement regarding the gadget on Sunday February 13th.

The unveiling of the new phone looks set to boost Google Android's position in the smartphone market, as it is the platform for the Xperia.

With regards to original equipment manufacturers in the US, comScore listed Samsung and LG as occupying the top two rankings, with 24.8 and 20.9 per cent of the industry each.